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Before school
Both schools started at 8.30. At the Gunningschool, pupils of all years gathered in the schoolyard. The girls of the 8th form avoided being the first one in the yard, preferring to wait by the fence until they spotted a classmate. Boys’ behaviour was more straight-forward, as they would just start playing football. The girls never joined their male classmates, and social outsiders were avoided. They had to wait by themselves until an ally entered. Who stands with whom was important. Although most girls had three close friends in class, cliques existed. The Gunningschool knew a distinction between popular and non-popular. The popular girls bullied one particular girl in this form, because she – in their words – snitched to teacher Thomas. The before school rituals revealed the hierarchy between the girls. Standing alone was to be avoided, but when a ‘better’ classmate arrived, a girl swiftly moved across the yard to stand with her. Usually, the popular girls reigned the conversations, whereas the less popular girls kept an open face and nodded a lot. The girls stood closely together, almost on top of each other, but made room for newcomers to enter the circle. Two janitors supervised from the top of the stairs, and sometimes shouted instructions to pupils and parents. The pupils were not allowed in the yard before 8.15; early arrivals needed to wait outside the fence. The pupils could only enter the building when the bell rang. Most juniors were brought by their mothers or the occasional father. Seniors, and especially eight-formers, came alone or with their friends. Two bells signalled the start of school. The first was the cue for the juniors, the second for the seniors. As the pupils entered the class, Thomas stood by the door and welcomed them. Lessons then started straight away.
At the Kantlijn, the pupils immediately entered the building and waited in their classrooms. Most parents brought their children, even their eight-formers, inside the classroom. Some parents waited for Luck to arrive, to ask questions or give instructions. When they left, they kissed their offspring, who were greatly embarrassed about that. Before school, the Kantlijn-pupils took a seat or stood together talking. Girls often mixed with boys. As this class was more inclusive, no one was left out, although some had their preferences. Here too, the girls stood close and they often touched each other. Sometimes the pupils turned on music, or practiced a dance. The pupils kept several of their own mixed CDs in class. The music ranged from top-40 hits to pop classics (e.g. California love by Tupac feat. Dr.Dre). Luck was usually late, which the pupils happily remarked upon. He started the day with a class conversation of matters at hand, such as whose parents could drive to school football.